Did Barcelona Almost Lose Lionel Messi?

There`s no doubt that Lionel Messi has been a fantastic servant to Barcelona Football Club.

Unless something dramatic happens, I believe that the 30-year-old Argentine will see out the remainder of his contract at the Camp Nou and go on to set several new milestones that will stand the test of time.

But could things have been different?

Apparently so!

According to the Spanish news source, El Mundo, Messi could have left Barcelona back in 2013.

Our referenced source is championing the suggestion that a rival La Liga club, but not just any rival, Real Madrid, were ready to make a move to take the player to the Bernabeu.

Seemingly, the Real Madrid hierarchy were set to pay the buy-out clause in Messi`s contract at the time, a cool €250 million.

Messi, in the white of Real Madrid, it doesn`t bare thinking about does it?